**VENEZUELA'S OIL EXPORT SYSTEM DOWN AFTER WEEKEND CYBERATTACK**

In a worrying development for the crisis-hit nation, Venezuela's state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) is still struggling to restore its key administrative systems after what it described as a cyberattack that struck over the weekend. The attack has left the network that manages export and import data at the country's main crude terminal in Jose offline for Monday.

The outage, which was triggered early Saturday, has delayed scheduled loadings and forced contingency measures across the company, according to three people familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity. In a bid to mitigate the damage, PDVSA staff were instructed by an internal memo seen by Bloomberg to shut down their computers, disconnect external hardware, cut off WiFi and Starlink connections.

Security at company facilities has also been reinforced since Sunday, according to those familiar with the situation. The cyberattack is just the latest in a string of digital disruptions that have hit PDVSA's operations in recent years, all of which have raised concerns about the company's ability to maintain its critical infrastructure.

PDVSA has confirmed that it had neutralized a "sabotage attempt" aimed at disrupting its operations. However, the company added that oil output wasn't affected by the cyberattack. A PDVSA press official was unavailable for comment on Monday.

The incident is likely to heighten tensions between Venezuela and the US, which has accused Maduro's government of perpetrating human rights abuses and undermining democracy. Washington has also imposed severe economic sanctions on Caracas in an effort to strangle its economy. President Nicolás Maduro has responded by accusing the US of orchestrating cyberattacks and other forms of sabotage.

As part of a broader campaign against narco-trafficking, the US has carried out nearly two dozen strikes against boats in the southern Caribbean since early September, claiming that they were carrying narcotics bound for the US. The operations have increased tensions with Maduro's government, which has long accused Washington of seeking to overthrow him.

The crisis-hit nation is already grappling with years of limited maintenance, making its administrative networks increasingly vulnerable to breaches. Furthermore, the company lost key software licenses after US sanctions barred dealings with American tech providers.

While PDVSA has suffered website hacks before, none have lasted as long as the current disruption, one person familiar with the situation said. The internal document warned that the company hasn't ruled out the possibility that information was compromised during the attack.

**A History of Cyberattacks**

Venezuela's government has a history of blaming cyberattacks on its adversaries. Last year, President Maduro claimed that hackers from Macedonia had delayed the tally of last year's presidential election, which he won in a landslide. The move sparked widespread criticism and allegations of vote-rigging.

**Escalating Tensions**

President Donald Trump has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to undertake covert action in Venezuela to curb drug shipments and illegal migration into the US. Last week, the US seized a sanctioned oil tanker carrying a load of Venezuelan crude, further escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas.

**A Cybersecurity Nightmare**

PDVSA's administrative networks have been plagued by years of limited maintenance and software license losses due to US sanctions. The company's inability to invest in modernizing its systems has left it increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. While the current disruption is not expected to affect oil output, it raises concerns about PDVSA's ability to maintain its critical infrastructure.